Wringer



I. TURNER WRINGER Jan. 20, 1942.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1939 ,fiw ekzior: M: m Jwmou,

Jan. 20, 1942.

I. TURNER WRINGER Filed Feb. 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 20,1942 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE WRINGER Ivan Turner, Richmond, EnglandApplication February 20, 1939, Serial No. 257,512 In Great BritainNovember 29, 1938 9 Claims.

improved means for releasing the pressure quickly from the rollers, forexample in case of danger to the operator or to the material passingbetween the rollers, the releasing means being so arranged as to beactuated by a. very small effort and in an almost automatic manner ifthe operators hands approach too near to the moving rollers.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved wringer inwhich the release of the pressure from the rollers stops automaticallythe feeding of the material between the rollers.

Other objects of the invention are to provide for power operation with aplurality of gears or speeds of movement suitable for different classesof material, and to enable the improved wringer to be applied todomestic washing machines of known construction having a vertical powershaft for driving a wringer by the same motor as the washing tank or theagitator moving within the said tank, the wringer being also adapted forswinging aside around the axis of the shaft and for folding down overthe washing tank when not in use.

The invention is hereafter described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved tank, the wringer W beingadaptedv to swing around the axis of the vertical shaft and also to folddown over the washing tank when not in use.

The wringer frame comprises two end-members IO, N, connected together attop by a beam or channel I2 of pressed sheet metal; as shown in Fig. 2,the end member I forms a gearbox and is rotatably supported upon thewashing machine M, by means of a spigot and socket connection |3, |4through which the vertical power shaft l5 from the driving motor (notshown) passes into the gearbox, the upper end of this shaft beingcoupled to a bevel gear IS. The gearbox is wringer in a preferredconstruction, the wringer being mounted upon a washing machine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, on a larger scale, showing one end ofthe wringer.

Fig. 3 is a part sectional elevation of the other end.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation in section, on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing a lever fulcrum and latching device intripped position.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing an alternative construction of lever fulcrumand latching device.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the wringer W is shown mounted upon a washingmachine M, which may be of the kind described in my prior Patent No.2,112,584, dated March 29, 1938, and having a vertical power shaft fordriving the wringer by the same motor as the rotary washing hinged at l1(see Fig. 4) to the outer member l4 of the spigot and socket device, sothat the wringer can be turned down over the washing machine afterreleasing a locking screw It. A horizontal shaft it! within the gearboxcarries a sliding pair of bevel gears 20, 2| connected by a sleeve 22controlled by a striking fork 23 whereby either of the gears 20, 2| canbe brought into mesh with the gear l6 upon the vertical shaft;

the fork 23 is mounted upon a pillar 24 having at its upper end anotherfork 25 controlled by an external handle 26 fastened to a verticalspindle 21 carrying a crank pin 28. The spindle 21 is mounted in asupport 29, secured to the beam l2. A second horizontal shaft 30,mounted vertically above the shaft I9, is connected thereto by two spurgears 3|, 32, secured to the respective shafts. The second shaft 30isalso connected to a third horizontal shaft 33, mounted verticallyabove the other two, by a plurality of pairs of spur gears of differentvelocity ratios; the construction illustrated comprises two pairs ofgears 34, 35 and 36, 31, the gears 32, 34, 36, upon the second shaftbeing secured thereto, as by a long key 38, and the gears 35, 31 uponthe upper shaft 33 being controlled by a sliding clutch member 39between them, the member 39 having teeth 40, 4| adapted to engage withthe toothed hubs of the respective gears 35, 31. The

sliding member 39 is controlled by an external handle 42, the spindle 43of which carries a crank pin 44 engaging the member 39. As illustratedin Fig. 1, the handle forms an indicator to show which gear is inoperation.

The shaft 33, which can thus be driven in either direction and at eitherof the two speeds by suitable manipulation of the handles 26, 42,respec-.

tively controlling the sliding bevel gears 20, 2| and the clutch member39, has its inner end 45 squared to engage positively in a rotatablecoupling member 46 mounted in the inner wall 41 of the gearbox; the samemember 48 receives the similarly squared end 48 of the spindle 48carrying the upper roller 58 of the wringer, this spindle 48 beingsupported at both ends in bearings 5|, 52. The bearings 5|, 52 aremounted in castings 58, 54 having their upper ends secured as by screws55 to the underside of the beam 2; these castings are formed with ribs58 on their back and front sides, to afford guide-channels for verticallinks 51 arranged in pairs to carry the bearings 58, 58 for the lowerroller spindle 88. The bearings 58, 58 are mounted in castings 8|, 52,secured by bolts 83 to the lower ends of the links 51, and to these samecastings there are secured by screws 84 the extremities of a metal tray85, extending beneath the lower roller 88 and carrying at front and backof the wringer curved sheet-metal guides 81 for the materials, the tray85 and lower roller 88 being movable together in the vertical directionunder control of the links 51. In this way the desired pressure can beapplied to the rollers 58, 88, by lifting the lower one 85 against theupper roller 58 which runs upon bearings 5|, 52 at fixed centers. Thebearings 5|, 52, 58, 58 and the bearings of the gearbox |8 arepreferably of the self-lubricating or oilless" type.

The upper ends of each pair of the vertical links 51 are connectedtogether by a pin 88 and by a distance piece 88 of U-shape, betweenwhich there is engaged the outer extremity of one of a pair of levers18, 1| extending longitudinally of the beam i2; these levers may consistof flat spring steel, and the adjacent extremities of the levers areengaged by a collar 12 slidable upon a vertical post 13 at about themiddle of the beam |2. A strong spring 14 is fitted around the post 13,above the collar 12, this spring being compressible to any desiredextent by means of a nut or hand-wheel 15 secured upon the upper end ofthe post 13, the latter havin its lower end 18 screw-threaded to engagein a nut 11 projecting from a plate 18 attached to the beam l2.

Each of the levers 18, 1| transmitting the spring pressure to thevertical links 51 is supported upon a pair of collapsible struts 18carrying a block 88 which normally forms a rigid fulcrum, these strutsbeing mounted within channel-like supports 8| upon the beam l2 andoccupying a slightly inclined position as seen in Fig. 2. The struts arenormally latched to prevent them from moving to a greater inclinationwhen the pressure acts upon the levers 18, 1|, until the latch istripped by a releasing device.

As shown in Fig. 2, each displaceable strut 18 is hinged on a pin 82near the lower edge of the support 8|, with a spring 88 coiled aroundthe hinge pin and pressing against another pin 84 so as to tend to raisethe strut for resetting purposes; the upper end 85 of the strut projectsabove the spring lever 18, 1| and is formed as a pawl normally engaginga notch 88 in the inturned edge of an angle-section latch 81 pivoted ona pin 88 at the inner end of the support 8|. The free ends of the twolatches 81 on each side of the wringer are connected together by astirrup 88 and the two latches are pressed downwards by a wire spring 88passing over the top of the latches and having its ends coiled around apin 8|. The inclination of the struts 18 is such that they tend to slipalong beneath the levers 18, 1| and to fall flat, as shown in Fig. 5,

under the pressure exerted on the blocks 88 by the' levers 18, 1|, butthe upper extremities or pawls 85 are normally retained by the latches81 until 82 extending longitudinally at back and front of the rollersand approximately level with the upper roller 58, the rails 82 beingcarried by cranked arms 88 passing up through slots 84 in the beam |2,with their inner ends 85 arranged to trip the latches by lifting thestirrups 88; thus the pressure on the rollers 58, 88 will be released bydisplacement of the struts 18 if either of the guard-rail 82 is pressedinwards. The bottom roller 88 will then fall away from the upper roller58, and at the same time the tray 85 will drop to the position indicatedin chain lines at 85 in Fig. 2, together with the guide 51, therebystopping the feed of material between the rollers.

Fig. 2 also shows automatic means for limiting the pressure between therollers; the two latches 81 serving to retain the struts 18 in normalposition are connected together by a bridge member .88 through whichthere is screwed an adjustable tappet 81 having its lower end at a shortdistance above the lever 18. In the event of the lower roller 88 beingforced down beyond the 7 limit set by the adjustment of the tappet 81,for

example by the operator's fingers being trapped between the rollers orby a hard object being enclosed in the material passing between therollers, the lever 18 assumes an inclined position by rocking upon theblock 88 with its inner end lifting up the collar 12 against thepressure of the spring 14; the upward movement of the inner end of thespring causes it to engage the tappet 81, thereby lifting the bridge 88and the latches 81 so as to release the struts 18, a similar releasingaction taking place at the other lever 1|.

It will be understood that the drive transmitted to the upper roller 58by means of the gearbox and spindle 48 may be conveyed to the lowerroller 88 and to the material engaged between the rollers by frictionaloperation under the pressure exerted by the levers 18, 1|; if preferred,however, the two rollers may be geared together in the well known mannerby gears 88, 88, fixed upon the spindles 48, 88 as shown in Fig. 2, thefall of the lower roller being sufficient to disengage the teeth ofthese gears.

In another form of the latching and releasing devices, as shown in Fig.6, the struts comprise pairs of slightly inclined links I88, pivotallyconnected to the pressure lever |8|, the lower ends of these links beingsupportedby a roller I82 resting on the bottom of the beam l2; a latchmember I83 of inverted channel section, pivoted at I84 and having itsflanges formed with hooks normally engaging over the projecting end ofthis roller, is adapted for lifting by the inner ends 85 of the crankedarms 88 carrying the guard rails, the latter as well as the verticallinks 51 and the pressure .spring 14 being arranged as previouslydescribed.

In both these arrangements, the latching device 81 or I82 is so locatedas to operate at a point where it is subject to minimum pressure, so asto facilitate release.

The wringer is preferably providedwith a supporting leg at the endremote from the gearbox l8, so as to reduce strain upon the spigot andsocket mounting device l3, l4 and to prevent distortion of the topsurface of the washing machine; Figs. 1 and 3 show the leg I 85 inoperative position, its extremity being fitted with a rubber shoe I 88.In the inoperative position, the

washing machine having a vertical power shaft, 7

I wish it to be understood. that the improved 'wringer can beconstructed in other forms and that it may be arranged independently ofthe washing machine, the drive being applied to the spindle of the upperroller from any convenient source of power; for example the spindle 49may be driven directly or through a reducing gear by a motor of anysuitable type, engaging the spindle by a coupling device applied to thesquared end 48.

What I claim is:

1. A wringer comprising a frame, a pair of cooperating rollers supportedone above the other in said frame, the upper one of said rollers beingrotatable at fixed centers in said frame, levers mounted on said frame,displaceable struts, means for holding said struts in position to formfulcra for said levers, spring means engaging corresponding ends of saidlevers, links engaged by the other ends of said levers, said linksacting to lift the lower one of said rollers for operative pressureagainst said upper roller, and means for freeing said struts to obtainrelease of said pressure.

2. A wringer comprising a frame, a pair of co-operating rollerssupported one above the other in said frame, the upper'one of saidrollers being rotatable at fixed centers in said frame, levers mountedon said frame, displaceable struts, means for holding said struts inposition to form fulcra for said levers, spring meansengagingcorresponding ends of said levers, links engaged by the otherends of said levers, said links acting to lift the lower one of saidrollers for operative pressure against said upper roller, and means forfreeing sa d struts to obtain release of said pressure, said freeingmeans including a guard, and means operated by said guard fordisengaging said holding means.

3. A wringer comprising a frame, a pair of cooperating rollers supportedone above the other in said frame, the upper one of said rollers beingrotatable at fixed centers in said frame, levers mounted on said frame,inclined struts normally forming fulcra for said levers, latches holdingsaid struts in their normal inclined position, spring means engagingcorresponding ends of said levers, links connected to the other ends ofsaid levers for lifting the lower one of said rollers at both endsthereof for operative pressure against said upper roller, and safetymeans for tripping said latches to free said struts, for dropping bothends of said lower roller.

4. A wringer comprising a frame, a pair of cooperating rollers supportedone above the other in said frame, the upper one of saidrollers beingrotatable at fixed centers in said frame, levers mounted on said frame,inclined struts normally forming fulcra for said levers, latches holdingsaid struts in their normal inclined position, spring means engagingcorresponding ends of said levers, links connected tothe other ends ofsaid levers for lifting the lower one of said rollers for operativepressure against said upper roller, and means for tripping said latchesto free said struts, said tripping means including a tappet operated byone of said levers upon undue movement of said lever from normalposition.

5. A wringer comprising a frame, a pair of cooperating rollers supportedone above the other in said frame, the upper one of said rollers beingrotatable at fixed centers in said frame, links normally supporting bothends of the lower one of said rollers for operative pressure againstsaid upper roller, a pair of levers located in said frame and above saidrollers, said links being engaged by ends of said levers, spring meansfor applying pressure to the other ends of said levers, inclined strutsmounted on said frame and normally supporting said levers intermediatelyof their ends, latches holding said struts in their operative inclinedposition, and means for releasing said latches to withdraw support fromsaid levers.

6. A wringer comprising a frame, a pair of cooperating rollers supportedone above the other in said frame, the upper one of said rollers beingrotatable at fixed centers in said frame, links normally supporting bothends of the lower one of said rollers for operative pressure againstsaid upper roller, a pair of levers located in said frame and above saidrollers, said links being engaged by ends of said levers, spring meansfor applying pressure to the other ends of said levers, inclined strutsmounted on said frame and normally supporting said levers intermediatelyof their ends, latches holding said struts in their operative inclinedposition, and means for releasing said latches to withdraw support fromsaid levers, said releasing means being operated by said levers assuminginclined positions due to yield of said spring means in the event ofexcessive pressure between said rollers.

7. A wringer comprising a frame, a pair of cooperating rollers supportedone above the other in said frame, the upper one of said rollers beingrotatable at fixed centers in said frame, links normally supporting bothends of the lower one of said rollers for operative pressure againstsaid upper roller, 8, pair of levers located in said frame and abovesaid rollers, said links being engaged by ends of said levers, springmeans for applying pressure to the other ends of said levers, inclinedstruts mounted on said frame and normally supporting said leversintermediately of their ends, latches holding said struts in theiroperative inclined position, and means for releasing said latches towithdraw support from said levers, said releasing means includingtappets controlling said latches, and said tappets being engaged by saidlevers assuming inclined positions due to yield of said spring means inthe event of excessive pressure between said rollers.

8. A wringer comprising a frame, a pair of cooperating rollers supportedone above the other in said frame, the upper one of said rollers beingrotatable at fixed centers in said frame, links normally supporting bothends of the lower one of said rollers for operative pressure againstsaid upper roller, a pair of levers located in said frame and above saidrollers, said links being engaged byends of said levers, spring meansfor applying pressure to the other ends of said levers, box-like membersmounted in said frame and traversed by said levers, inclined strutsmounted within sad box-like members, pivots at the lower ends of saidstruts, fulcrum members carried by said struts and normally engaging theunder sides of said levers intermediately of their ends, latches pivotedupon said box-like members and normally engaging the upper ends of saidstruts, and means for lifting said latches of said levers, an adjustingscrew for varying the pressure oi! said spring means, a nut fixed tosaid top beam and engaged by said screw, links connecting the oppositeends of said levers to said vertically displaceable bearings, inclinedstruts pivoted upon said top beam and forming displaceable fulcra forsaid levers, latches engaging said struts to hold them in inclinedoperative position, and means for releasing said latches for IVANTURNER.

10 collapse of said struts.

